Nov 18th Presentation

Energy Independence in the Chequamegon Bay Region November 18 , 2009

Purpose & Outline Provide an update on regional renewable energy efforts and ongoing progress. Energy Independent Communities Pilot Project Woody Biomass Initiative Regional Wind Energy Consortium Next Steps

Gather public input. Q&A Survey sheets Contact information

Communities Pilot Project: Chequamegon Bay Region

This project was made possible by grant funds from the Wisconsin Office of Energy Independence.

The Problem In 2007, Wisconsin spent $21.5 billion dollars

on energy Nearly ALL of which was spent out of state to import coal and petroleum products. A 9.9% increase ($1.9 billion) over 2006. 25% shift to local renewable energy sources is  equal to $5.4 billion that stays in the State of F o ssil fu e ls : Wisconsin H a ve m a n y n e g a tive im p a cts o n p e o p le a n d th e e n viro n m e n t. A re co stly a n d FIN IT E re so u rce s. A re n o t d e rive d lo ca lly.  

Estimated Clean Energy Job Creation in Wisconsin Wisconsin is #1 in manufacturing – many “green”

jobs will be developed in these industries

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A clean energy economy will need:  Metal Workers – wind turbine components, biofuel processing

equipment  Weatherization and Building Professionals – energy efficiency retrofits and renewable energy component installation  Engineers, Research & Development Specialists, Community Planners 

Compared to fossil fuels, clean energy investment

could produce:

 3 times more jobs for people with college degrees  3.6 times more jobs for people without college degrees

The 25 x 25 Challenge Executive Order 192 The Office of Energy Independence Energy Independent Communities

The Goals of the 25 x 25 Plan: Derive 25% of our

energy & transportation fuels from renewable sources by the year 2025. Attract 10% of the emerging US bioindustry jobs to Wisconsin.

About the Partnership One of 10 EI Pilot Communities in Wisconsin.

Largest partnership of communities in statewide project, including: Cities of Ashland, Washburn & Bayfield. Towns of Bayfield & La Pointe. Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Bay Area Rural Transit (BART). Ashland & Bayfield Counties.

Working with UW-Extension, Focus on Energy, Local Government Institute and others. Coordinated through the Alliance for Sustainability.

How the Project Works Data collection – 3 years of information to

establish a baseline for fuel & energy use (nearly 200 facilities) Identify priorities  Energy efficiency, fuel efficiency &

conservation, economic development, energy education, renewable energy

Identify projects  Energy conservation &  efficiency, renewable energy Gather public input Develop 25 x 25 Plans Implement plans 2010-2025 Track ongoing progress

Challenges

Multiple energy providers in two-county area Deciphering various utility information 

Challenges

Most communities weren’t tracking the same

information. Fuel consumption by volume & cost was

especially challenging. In many cases, process required additional staff time from each partner to collect necessary information.

Decentralized record keeping for grant-funded

programs and facilities. Nature of a pilot project – learning as we go. 

Benefits of the Process Streamlined energy records & tracking methods  Updated addresses & premise IDs.  Set up partners with Energy Star Portfolio Manager 

Established baselines for fuel & energy consumption 

Identified anomalies in billing & records • City of Ashland Street Lighting – refunded over $23,000 for past two years, with possibility of additional refunds for previous 4 years. • Some buildings have multiple premise IDs – past audits may no0t have included combined utility information. 

Reduced operating costs 

Preference for future funding opportunities 

Energy education for participating team members

What We Know Now

Regional Energy Consumption

Energy Type, Use & Emissions

What will we do with this information? Use baseline information as a starting point to

measure impacts of future efforts. Identify primary focus areas for energy conservation & efficiency projects. Investigate most feasible options for renewable energy. Determine payback and pursue funding for EE/RE projects. Develop timeline for projects to meet 25x25 Goals. Draft 25x25 Plans for each partner community. 

Outcomes Reduced operating costs Conservation & efficiency Local energy sources 

Cleaner environment Reduced GHG emissions Improved air & water quality 

Regionalized energy economy Local sources for wind, solar, biomass and

more in the Chequamegon Bay Area  

Questions? For more information:         

Alliance for Sustainability 715-682-1189 [email protected] www.allianceforsustainability.org

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Office of Energy Independence energyindependence.wi.gov

Agriculture and Energy Resource Center Introduction Ashland Ag Station Woody Biomass Research Trials. 10.5 acre planting of hybrid poplar & willow to show feasibility of row cropping trees for energy production.

L a k e S u p e rio r W o o d y B io m a ss In itia tiv e P h a se 1 By Jason Fischbach, UW-Extension Agriculture Agent Ashland and Bayfield County

Energy From the Sun Photovoltaic Thermal Wind Hydrocarbon synthesis Biomass

T h e La ke S u p e rio r W o o d y B io m a ss In itia tive is a n e ffo rt to d e ve lo p th e su sta in a b le u se o f w o o d y b io m a ss a s a so u rce o f e n e rg y fo r th e C h e q u a m e g o n B a y R e g io n .

Primary Focus Areas : Sustainable harvest of woody biomass from regional forestlands 

Sustainable production of woody biomass and energy crops from agricultural lands 

Maximizing net energy gain and greenhouse gas reductions of wood-toenergy systems through systems analysis.

1 . Fully Utilize the Biomass Crop Assistance Program Matching Payments to Loggers/Producers

for delivery of eligible biomass materials Subsidy/cost-share payments for woody biomass crops

2. Evaluate Performance and Local Adaptability of Selections of Energy Crops

Pe rfo rm a n ce Tria ls A re Fu n d e d a n d B e in g E sta b lish e d in 2 0 0 9 -2 0 1 0 a t tw o lo ca tio n s.

3. Understand The Woody Biomass Supply in NW Wisconsin

C o m p a ra tive A n a lysis o f H a rve st R e sid u e ility • CAova rd -ilBaabse d (U S D A T P O , 2 0 0 9 ) • M o d e l-B a se d ( B R D I, 2 0 0 8 ; B e cke r e t a l, 2 0 0 9 ) • A cre s-B a se d ( Fisch b a ch e t a l, in d e ve lo p m e n t) E ffo rts a re u n d e rw a y to m o re a ccu ra te ly u n d e rsta n d h a rve st re sid u e p ro d u ctio n a n d h a rve st re sid u e a va ila b ility.

4. Optimize Woody Biomass Production Systems B io m a ss Pro d u ctio n Tria ls A re Fu n d e d a n d B e in g P la n te d in 2 0 0 9 / 2 0 1 0 a t tw o lo ca tio n s.

The Trials Will Yield Valuable Information About … Vegetation Management Economics, Carbon, Net Energy, Wildlife, Soil Quality, Water Quality

Materials Management Planting, Harvest, Densification, Transportation, Aggregation

5 . Q u a n tify a n d Im p ro ve th e N e t E n e rg y G a in a n d G re e n h o u se G a s R e d u ctio n o f W o o d -to -E n e rg y S yste m s in N W W isco n sin Development of collaborative research projects addressing carbon, nutrients, wildlife habitat, and net energy are being developed.

Questions?

Agriculture & Energy Resource Center , Inc . P . O . Box 69 Ashland , WI 54806 wisconsinaerc@gmail . com

Regional Wind Energy Consortium Purposes: Promote regional collaboration; build knowledge and skills. Develop a common voice around wind energy in region.

Larry Bean/Mark AbelesAllison, Chair/Vice Chair. Alliance provides central coordination. Inaugural meeting held July 14. Open to others interested in pursuing local wind energy.

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Bayfield County Wind Energy Efforts B a ckg ro u n d Lo o kin g fo r w a ys to

cu t co sts & sa ve ta xp a ye r d o lla rs 

W in d g e n e ra tio n in

B a yfie ld C o u n ty Fo re st co u ld m e e t m o st lo ca le le ctricity d e m a n d s, sa ve m o n e y , a n d d e cre a se g re e n h o u se g a s e m issio n s. 

Tu rb in e s w o u ld se ll

Bayfield County Wind Energy Efforts  Benefits

 Approximately 10 year payback, with

remaining years in operation generating ongoing profits.  Anticipated lifespan of the turbine is 25-30 years.

  Progress

 Located potential sites on county forest  





land. Site Assessment completed August 27, 2008. Mt. Ashwabay ridge has the most wind potential and close proximity to existing power lines. Partnered with the Dept. of Natural Resources, Les Voigt Fish Hatchery on wind study. Applied for and received Focus on Energy grant to help pay for wind study.

Wind study progress 30 Meter Meteorological tower erected early June 2008,

duration of study is approx. 1 year

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 Wind speed average from June thru November: 30

meter 9.2 mph, 20 meter 7.1 mph  Summer and early fall is the least windy part of the year, so wind averages will likely increase through the winter  Wind shear is quite high - wind speed dramatically increases with height which is good because a potential turbine hub would be 75-80 meters high. 

SODAR (Sonic Detection and Ranging) deployed early

October 2008, SODAR completed late November 2008.



 SODAR measures wind speed and wind shear up to 150

meters through acoustic frequencies  No analysis from SODAR unit at this point 

Wind study progress D N R a n d C o u n ty sw a p o u t d a ta ca rd s o n ce a m o n th fro m M E T to w e r a n d se n d d a ta to S u p e rio r S a fe ty a n d E n viro n m e n t fo r a n a lysis.  C o u n ty h a s cle a re d a se co n d site fu rth e r w e st o f cu rre n t site to m e a su re w in d sp e e d a t th a t lo ca tio n w ith S O D A R n ext sp rin g .  W in d sp e e d m a y b e b e tte r a n d site is e ve n clo se r to p o w e r lin e s.  S e co n d site w ill b e e ve n fu rth e r a w a y fro m p riva te re sid e n ce s, g a in m o re w in d a n d a llo w u s to g e t a b e tte r h a n d le o n th e w in d p o te n tia l o n th e M t. A sh w a b a y rid g e . 

Next Steps Analyze data from Met tower and SODAR. Determine if wind power is a feasible option for

the County and DNR. Possible collaboration with Madeline Island on locating their turbines on the Mt. Ashwabay ridge. 

Q u e stio n s?

Alternative Energy Study for Town of La Pointe Nov 18, 2009 Enabled by grants from Apostle Islands Area Community Fund (AIACF), WI Focus on Energy, Governor’s Office on Energy Independence, the Minneapolis Foundation and the Fund for the Environment. Alternative Energy Committee Larry Bean, Chairman Mark Eggleson Alan Fischlowitz Carl Frederickson Burke Henry

Assembling the Met Tower at Big Bay State Park Oct. 27, 2008

Pulling up the gin pole will erect the Met Tower.

Madeline Island wind energy efforts in 2009 have focused on … the wind data from the Big Bay State Park 1)analyzing measurement program.

2) estimating the projected year 2025 total Madeline Island electrical load. 3) calculating the number, the size and the height of the turbines necessary to supply 100% of the year 2025 load. 4) determining the most feasible location for these turbines. 5) estimating the cost of the wind energy project and the length of the break-even period.

What has the measurement program told us? Average Wind Speed = 11.1 MPH @ 161 feet elevation (Nov. 1, 2008- Oct. 31, 2009)

Max Speed averaged over a single month = 13.9 MPH (Dec. 2008) Max Speed averaged over a single day = 25.3 MPH (May 13, 2009) Max Speed averaged over a 10 min interval = 43.0 MPH (5/20/2009) Max Gust w/i 10 min interval = 51.7 MPH (1/31/09) # of 10 minute measurement intervals w/valid data = 47,910.

Distribution of Wind Speed & Direction at Big Bay State Park 11/1/2008-10/31/2009

Outer circle= 30% Inner circle= 0%

11.2 MPH

22.4 MPH

33.6 MPH 41

What has the measurement program told us? The data reveals considerable wind turbulence at BBSP up as high as 164 feet.

SODAR Equipment

This is not a surprise because Madeline Island is heavily forested. A corn field would be better. We conducted a new measurement program using different equipment (SODAR) to get a better handle on turbulence up to a height of about 450 feet. This SODAR program was funded by a grant from Xcel Energy and lasted approx. one month.

Providing 100 % of Madeline Island ’ s 2025 load is our goal . We need to plan for six to seven 600kW turbines (or equivalent). They will need to be installed on 246 ft high towers. The project would be sized at approximately 4 Megawatts and is estimated to cost about $12 million. Break even will be about 12 years (first order analysis).

n io s lu c Ex A e A F on Z

Potentially OK

44

The “Old Anderson Farm” area

600 ft 600 ft radius 24 radius 00 2200ft

ft 2000ft 1800ft 1600ft 600 ft 1400ft radius 1200ft 600 ft 1000ft radius 600 ft800ft radius600ft 400ft 600 ft 200ft radius 0ft

600 ft radius 600 ft radius

600 ft radius

6000m 5500m 500m 450m 400m 350m 300m 250m 200m 150m 100m 50m 0m

When we placed a medium sized stay-out zone centered on each residence, we knew that this area would not work. The Anderson Farm area was ruled out.

We next examined the northeast end of the island as the possible location of the turbines.

Turbine Location ???

Anemometer Location

North

East

West South

Madeline Island

Prevailing Wind

47

Property Owned by:

North end of Island

Town

Dave Thomas Access road from beach ( must be improved ) FAA Exclusion Zone

Nelson Const. Ashland County

All equipment will be landed at beach by barge

Five potential turbine tower sites . All are 10 swept area diameters apart from each other and all are at

Privat e Tower site within 500 m radius circle

48

Fuhrlander 600 KW Turbine System 100 M

328 Ft

75 M

246 Ft

50 M

164 Ft Rotor: 13.5 tons Hub: 25.8 tons Tower: 110.0 tons Total: 149.3 tons

0M Foundation: 100s of tons of cement & rebar

0 Ft 49

Fuhrlander 1000-B (produces approx 17% more power.)

Fuhrlander 600 100 M

75 M

328 Ft

100 M

328 Ft

Produces more

246 Ft

approx 17% energy

70 M 50 M

164 Ft Rotor: 13.5 tons Hub: 25.8 tons Tower: 110.0 tons Total: 149.3 tons

0M

230 Ft

0 Ft Foundation:

40 M

0M

131 Ft Rotor: 22.6 tons Hub: 44.6 tons Tower: 105.0 tons Total: 172.2 tons 0 Ft

100s of tons of cement & rebar

50

Saturn 5 Moon Rocket

232 Ft

Comparison 1.5 MW vs. 660kW Systems

Swept Area = 1A (1.5 MW)

362’ 328 Ft

Swept Area = 0.4 A

240 Ft

144 Ft (660kW)

Comparative Weight Tower

1.5 MW System 71 T

660 kW System 42 T

Turbine

52 T

22.5 T

3 Blades 36 T

8T

Total

72.5 T

159 T

Tower

96 Ft

Comparative Size Foundation (100s of tons of cement & rebar))

51

Next Steps We need to relocate the met tower to the north end gravel pit and take one more year of wind data and one month of SODAR data. 

During that time, we will have to answer the following questions: What are the environmental impacts? How would this program be financed? What would be the ownership model? What are the benefits for the Town and community members? Who would be the developer? Who would manage and maintain it? When could it be installed and put on line? 

We will apply for additional grants to fund this effort.

Questions?

Wind energy at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center

Ongoing energy conservation efforts. Completed environmental analysis for erection of a meteorological tower and met with neighbors to discuss plans and respond to questions and concerns. Currently pursuing funding for installation. Requested funds from the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest to complete wind study and feasibility study.

Striving to become a demonstration site for all visitors.

Renewables Around the Bay

Many local businesses and agencies are already using renewable energy ! Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Bayfield County Jail Midland Energy – Sanborn Station #2 Septic Memorial Medical Center WITC-Ashland Northland College Pinehurst Inn Xcel Energy Many more!

Next Steps Energy Independent Communities 2010  Current partners are welcome to remain involved in project and conversation going forward.  Communities in Ashland & Bayfield Counties are encouraged to join, but must pass 25x25 Resolution by 2010 to be eligible. 

 AERC has agreed to be a partner.  Potential venue for developing sustainable local sources for biomass and biofuels, important step toward achieving true energy independence for the Chequamegon Bay Region. 

 Midland Energy has agreed to be a partner.  Currently determining interest and feasibility of introducing biodiesel to Sanborn station.

Shape Your Future The great energy source shift will require

research-based information and knowledge like never before. Learn, ask questions, and get involved!  

Alliance for Sustainability

www . allianceforsustainabilit y . org

715 - 682 - 1189

Agriculture & Energy Resource Center , Inc . P . O . Box 69 Ashland , WI 54806 wisconsinaerc@gmail . com

Thank You !

info@allianceforsustainabili ty . org